ANOTHER first day of Kindergarten....

it seems like only yesterday, when Tutt and I were sending Kash off to Kindergarten, we were a combination of total excitement and total heartbreak and it wasn't easy to come home with only one kid.
BUT...
then there was this year, sending Kash to first grade and Leah to Kindergarten. It was SOOOOO much harder. Coming home with NO kids, turned this momma into a MESS, a sobbing, blubbering MESS! We sent both our kids off, went and had breakfast together, I continued to cry until we picked Leah up 3 hours later. She came running out of her class singing a song about leaves and singing the praises of her teachers even louder! I still don't know when Tutt and I managed to get "grown up" enough for two kids in school... weird.

here are a few pics from the day! (A month behind, I KNOW!)








peace.
maria

hi... been a while right?

hello,

I know it has been a while since I posted but man, I am so busy, and when choosing between spending the last few moments of the day blogging or snuggling with my family, I tend to choose them. I know, I know it is "bad for business" but what about being bad for me? Is the time spent on Twitter, Facebook and my amazingly awesome blog (if I do say so myself) more important than the time I spent on my family? ... on myself? Sometimes I feel like I fight the urge to be both a great and all powerful business woman and artist or a stay at home mom tending to my garden, turning our house into a home, a pretty home, and playing dress up with my kids.

I have a ton to share, please bear with me as I get through the piles and the giggles and the weeds. I have a tea party to plan.

In the meantime enjoy this amazing little poem and video. Made me cry a little, smile a little and think a lot.




thanks for letting me share.

peace.
maria

just one little sneak peek of our little office assistant...

So this is Robyn and Shawn's little miss sunshine, they call her Berkeley Lynn and she is perfect! Robyn is a perfectly natural, completely glowing mother and Shawn is the dotting completely smitten daddy I knew he would be.




Miss Berkeley, your parents are the best people I know, and you my little girl deserve the very best.

Uncle Tutt and I will always be here for you.

peace.
maria

three things to love about rachael...

1. she went from a teenager to a mother in 9 months, even if she hadn't planned on it.
2. she is a gifted artist that has been altering and creating since I can remember.
3. she has the most beautiful, talented and wise middle sister in the entire world.







We went for a walk on mom's farm during a break in the rain with no intention of shooting a maternity session, but when the sun came from behind the clouds, it seemed only proper to make some photographs of her belly even if it was for 5 minutes.

I can hardy wait to meet my nephew and see my little sister as a mom.

peace.
maria

three reasons I love oregon...

1. the green. there is a color green in Oregon that is unlike any other that I have seen. It feels like home to me.
2. the sky. so big, so blue, so fresh.
3. the hills. sometimes covered in snow, always covered in trees.





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as expected in Oregon in the spring it rained and snowed most days but on the very last day the sun was out and the sky's were amazing. We instantly jumped up and went for a walk through the "enchanted forrest" and it was truly enchanted. From the sounds of kash and leah singing as explored, to the wildflowers that seemed to bloom as we walked. It was the perfect way to end another perfect week in Oregon.

Happy trails to you.

peace.
maria

three reasons i love easter...

1. easter dresses... Leah, chose hers with my mom, notice the patten leather boots... that's my girl!
2. easter egg hunts. we do things a bit differently the easter bunny leaves clues from place to place. little poetic rhymes that leave you guessing, wandering and eventually leads you to some candy, eggs and another clue. It is the BEST!!
3. sugar eggs... this is something we used to do when I was a kid with my grandpa and we did it again this year. It has been a long time but we had a great time remembering how!

three reasons I love my tutt...

1. he has an insane amount of optimism and constantly reminds me to believe and trust.
2. he can always make me laugh... even when I don't want to.
3. he has a great ass.... it's true he does.


we spent the 13th day of the year together wandering San Francisco, with no plan. Just enjoying each other. It was perfection.
I had planned on taking picture all day,being super creative and pushing myself, instead I took 4.
I couldn't, I craved his hand in mine.

these are the four I took...




this artist is Ruth Asawa, I LOVE these. they through the coolest shadows on the wall, art pieces in themselves. Took my breath away. Thank you Ruth.


This piece was done by Arthur Frank Mathews, it is called "Song of the Sea (The Three Graces) i love it.


(I know that I did not do those works justice at all, but I wanted to share them with you.)

nine years with my hubby, nine amazing, crazy beautiful years. we have both failed miserably and conquered triumphantly, we have both held it together while ripping it all to shreds. we have created life together, two amazing truly breathtaking lives together. we have loved, cursed, danced, cried, fought, healed, kissed and laughed together. all together. always together.

peace.
maria

Happy Halloween!

this was the craziest year EVER!!

We had a great time, although both Tutt and I are TOTALLY exhausted, with Kash in kindergarten it meant all day friday was spent at costume parades and class parties, 50 five year olds running around cracked out on sugar and dressed up like every super hero I had ever heard of... even some that I hadn't.
Kash insisted on Leah joining him in the Parade and party, it was really great to watch them walk hand in hand, Kash proud of his sister and Leah a little shy and overwhelmed by the crowds. They walked as Jedi "Saken fighter"(the name Kash came up with) and "Ewok Leah" ( simple)
The best part was watching Kash and Leah trick or treating while Tutt and I watched from the sidewalk, this year I can safely say was a whole new level in life, one that I am completely proud, shy and overwhelmed by.









peace.
maria

i lost a friend today.
he is a good man, that loves his family with every ounce of his being.
he took me in when i needed and he danced my ass off weather i liked it or not.

i always liked it.

thank you pappa d.

peace.
maria

three reasons we are keeping her...

1. this little one year old adopted and took care of TWO litters of kittens that were not hers. She nursed them and cleaned them until their momma was well enough to take over. a momma after my own heart.

2. I knew she would be amazing with the kids, and she is. AMAZING. Kash cannot believe she ALWAYS lands on her feet and has been caught tossing her in the air (4 whole feet) and watching her land, and she STILL comes back for loving. Leah puts her in the baby baskets and carries her blankets. Sundae NEVER scratches or bites! I am in constant awe.

3. she won over my cat disliking husband (even though he has liked every cat I introduce him too) so much so that they sleep together at night.

everyone welcome Sundae to the family...


she is the best birthday present a momma like me could ask for. Thanks Rachael.

peace.
maria

holy moly...

Micheal Jackson died.
in case you had not heard.
and part of me is fine with that.i am happy to have been reminded about how great his music is and I have completley loved living it and celebrate it once again.

i remember Thriller, we had a "behind the scenes" tape that we played over and over again in total awe, every one in our house was in awe.
I loved the poster over my bed, in the yellow vest...dreamy.

I am not sad.
I am thankful.

here are a few videos in honor of the music they made me smile.





this is just to remind me and you.



I still get scared.

peace.
maria

three things i love in my purse...

1. my pink cavalli knock off glasses.

2. my 11x14 Strathmore sketch pad... it is full of "brilliant" brain storm sessions.

3. bussines card holder with a pic of my kids on it... should I feel guilty that the iphone was close to taking the spot of a pic of my kids? Bad mommy...

3a. iphone...come on!!



wait i love the clutch i found in the strangest place!! oh and the little hat leah looks adorable in! oh man the three things didn't really work out... well those are my TOP three things the rest are the three that I love too..yeah that's it!

peace.
maria

...

i spent last weekend in my home town of huntington beach, not a place i particularly love, maybe it is the hippy in me or my way too pale skin but it has never felt like home to me. the only place to me that feels like home is the beach, the smell of the air, sand and water, the sounds of waves, kids and birds and the silence it allows for you to marinate in.










this trip for me was not my usual best friend bash more a time to say good bye to someone i have loved and who has loved me with his laughter, safety, warm dinners, great parties and the occasional laundry. i went to say good bye to him and to hold the hand of his daughter, to let her have moments of weakness, tears, laughter and silliness.
my best friend is amazing, she is also breathtaking and wonderful and has the strength of a thousand lions, if i could walk with her hand in hand forever everyday i would.



peace.
maria

three things I am excited about...

1. we are MOVING!!! to a 1930's fixer but it is our little casa to love on as we see fit!

2. we can walk to EVERYTHING!
hardware store...check
park and library...check
apple store...yikes!

3. i am twenty minutes closer to Verité and a walk away from Bart!



these are the before pics... i promise to post about the outside and along the way...

peace.
maria

my first piece of art....

this is the first piece of art I have ever purchased.

i love the joy on their faces, i love their colors, i love that the boy on the right is wearing a U.S.M.C. t shirt, i love the palms of their hands and absolutely LOVE that bob marley's name is shining over it all.

i found it on the fourth of july in oakland. before watching the fireworks show.

i wish i could remember the artists name but it has faded away, all i remember is that he was a beautiful, tall african with a head of dreadlocks. and his work was filled with joy and color.

unfortunately, the photograph was a digital print from a LONG time ago, so the quality is now fading and that makes me sad, I hope he doesn't mind that I have scanned it to keep forever.

if you know his name please let me know!!!

I am getting ready for Tracy and Steve's wedding this weekend and sooo excited!!!

peace.
maria